Tuesday, June 16, 2009

I've started a web ring at WebRing® for Chainmaille Artisans. Anyone who has a current and active website or blog is welcome to join. Doesn't matter if you're a professional or hobbyist, Web rings help us promote each other, share interesting new sites related to this passion and keeps the Internet turning. LOL

To join, simple go over to WebRing® or copy and paste http://www.webring.com/hub?ring=chainmailleartis into your browser. Then click on Join This Community in the upper right. Log in, follow directions for placing the navbar on your website or blog and approval should be forthcoming within 24 hours. Don't forget, you must place the navbar code into your website or blog or you won't be approved.

I hope to see many people joining me. And I promise to maintain this ring by making sure everyone keeps their site up and the navbar properly listed. I hate it when a web ring stalls. :)

Miki

07-02-09 Update: After promising to maintain this ring by making sure everyone keeps their navbar up and properly listed, here I go and screw it up during the makeover. I'm temporarily suspended myself from the ring and hope it'll be back up and running this weekend. Apparently, though, the page spewing forth validation errors because of the WebRing code. So it's true, stuff does happen. :(

Friday, June 5, 2009

Is there such a thing as a "perfect" web designer? I'm not sure, but perhaps we can come close. I've been looking for someone to re-design my website and blog, put up a shopping cart on my site and help me with SEO, search engine optiminzation. So, I found DesignQuote.net. There I listed my requirements, what I expect and my budget, which isn't very high. I really didn't expect much but imagine my surprise when I got 7 responses within 3 days!

So, I spent the next week or so talking to web designers. Many of whom insisted that I host on their servers. Those were eliminated immediately since I already have a host server and am not looking to change right now. Others were wonderful graphic designers, but didn't have the programming skills I needed to include my shopping cart. I'm good with graphics myself and am really just looking for someone to make my pages have style and consistency... my style, not theirs. As a jewelry designer and artist, I'm drawn to certain designs.

Some people had more experience in one area than another. Some tried to be everything to everybody. I found a wonderful woman I feel comfortable with and now, Delia of AKMWebCo, and I will work on getting my website looking pretty, easy to navigate, eCommerce plugged in and, this blog seamlessly integrated. At least that is my hope.

So, stay with me through this process and find out the ups and downs of working with a designer. With luck, I'll be able to have time to make more jewelry and photograph it as well.